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Monthly Archives: December 2013

Recently, members of the Garden Grove Fire Department filled their fire trucks with $2,850 worth of toys for their annual Spark of Love Toy Drive.

On Friday, Dec. 20, the Garden Grove Fire Department will join ABC7’s Garth Kemp, dressed as a giant elf, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, at 2695 E. Katella Ave., between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., for the annual Stuff-A-Bus event, which supports the Spark of Love Toy Drive. The public is encouraged to participate by donating new, unwrapped toys or sporting equipment for children in need throughout the community.

Garden Grove firefighters will be collecting donations from now until Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Garden Grove City Hall, at 11222 Acacia Parkway, as well as at all seven Garden Grove Fire Stations:

Station 1: 11301 Acacia Parkway

Station 2: 11805 Gilbert Street

Station 3: 12132 Trask Avenue

Station 4: 12191 Valley View Street

Station 5: 12751 Western Avenue

Station 6: 12111 Chapman Avenue

Station 7: 14162 Forsyth Lane

The annual Spark of Love Toy Drive is sponsored by ABC7 and Southern California Firefighters. Over the past two decades, the toy drive has successfully collected more than 7.5 million toys for families in need. With the support of donors and sponsors, kids across Southern California receive a new toy each holiday season.

For more information, call the Garden Grove Fire Department at 714-741-5600.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal has announced his staff will be holding weekly office hours at Stanton City Hall so that constituents in the area don’t have to drive to his Long Beach office. Lowenthal represents residents of Stanton, Garden Grove, Westminster and other communities.

I’ve been living in Orange County for more than 20 years, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the term “Garbage Grove” used to describe the city I now cover.

I don’t know who came up with the label or how it stuck.

What I do know is it couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, Garden Grove has some rough areas, but it’s also got a wonderful downtown (including historic Main Street), a good chunk of Little Saigon in it and some wonderful venues on Harbor Boulevard, among other things.Also: many quaint neighborhoods.

Oh! Did I mention a football team on the verge of perfection?

I’ll leave that to local Walter Paine, who wrote this letter to the OCN this week regarding the subject:

Our city does not deserve the reputation it has in Orange County.

I read somewhere where someone once again referred to Garden Grove as “Garbage Grove.”

I invite any and all people who think like this to our fine city.

I could tick off a number of reasons to visit “The Grove,” but right now, I’ll give you one: our undefeated high school football team!

Yes, the Garden Grove High Argonauts are 13-0 and headed to the CIF finals against another undefeated team, Corona del Mar High. The game will be played at Angel Stadium on Friday night.

These young men have a chance at making history. They have a chance at perfection.

And it’s no accident.

Coach Willy Puga has built a powerhouse.

Last year, the Argos lost to Corona del Mar in the finals.

The year before, we won it all.

This year, let’s make it two out of three, and keep going from there, because once a coach like Puga has a system in place – a system that resulted in five shutouts this year – your opponents are in trouble.